Sounding the alarm on racial discrimination ended my professional journey - Burrell

Important note: This article includes details of racially offensive language and behaviour

Ex-England player Luther Burrell claims that speaking out to expose racial discrimination in professional rugby led his career to an early conclusion.

In a June 2022, Burrell described racism as being "widespread" in the game, displaying digital communications and remembering training ground "jokes" he had been exposed to while representing Newcastle.

At that time 34 and without a team, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

"I've have definitely had to end my career because of what occurred," he told reporters.

"I hoped to carry on competing, of course I did. I pursued that, and it fell through when word emerged that there were investigations underway.

"This situation was difficult - I had to just accept the fate and accept that this entire situation is a lot bigger than me."

A sports organization investigation in April 2023 found Burrell's claims were true "on the balance of probability", but said it could not collect enough evidence to definitively say they occurred at Newcastle.

Burrell told journalists he also encountered prejudice within the England team environment, during a international career that saw him win 15 caps after his first game in 2014.

"I've had multiple distressing experiences within England camp," he said.

"Some discrimination and other just old-school mentality that's really unacceptable."

Racism had become accepted in dressing rooms, in Burrell's view.

"This is something that has been disguised as humour and that's been the issue that I've myself suffered and seen," said Burrell, who is of Jamaican heritage.

"Over a extended period you just begin to believe that it's the norm and that is acceptable and that it's not harmful, but that's nonsense."

Burrell says he was eventually motivated to speak out after a fellow player at Newcastle called him as a "slave" and instructed him to put sun cream on his arms and legs "where your shackles were."

The rugby authority said Burrell's disclosures had led to "a deeper look at the environment within the professional level and to the implementation of an action plan for the professional game."

"We has placed considerable attention on inclusion and inclusion in the sport and a great deal of work completed both before and since Luther Burrell spoke publicly and revealed his encounters of racism and class discrimination," it continued.

"We are continuing work with clubs and stakeholders in the elite level to work for a culture of acceptance but recognize this takes time and is an continuous effort."

All Prem and women's rugby club now has in-person education on creating welcoming environments, with its success tracked via individual reports and feedback.

All England athletes, including youth squads, are educated in being "active bystanders" to step in and protect others from harmful behaviour.

"You should be so proud of what you have done," Burrell's mother Joyce told him as part of the documentary about his experiences.

"We know it has had this impact on you and ended your playing days, but in our eyes, you have done so well. We are so impressed of you and to have you as a son."

Burrell's father Geoff passed away soon after the filming of the documentary, and his sister died recently.

Burrell, who grew up on a council estate in his hometown, maintains his work to make the game more accessible.

His charitable organization works to reach children in disadvantaged communities and help them succeed on and off the field with free sports coaching, mentoring and dietary education.

"My personal motivations are pure, I want to see the progress of the game and if nobody else is willing to share their story then I'll continue to advocate for that cause because I'm not just doing this for my own benefit," he explained.

"We have an obligation to make the sport as great as it can be and the longer I speak about it perhaps the more comfortable fellow players will feel about sharing their personal stories as well.

"I take the bull by the opportunity and continue bearing this banner and continue supporting this weight and accomplish what I can to create opportunities and make the game more appealing and more welcoming.

"There are a lot of disadvantaged children and a lot of economic hardship and I honestly believe that the sport has the ability to transform their lives, just as it transformed things for me."